Our Guide to Sparkling Wines for Christmas

A collection of some of our favourite sparkling wines to drink over the festive period. From round and opulent Champagne to fresh and mineral Pet Nats, we have something for everyone. We tend to reach for fizz with more body and texture at this time of year and this selection reflects that;

CHAMPAGNE

Ruppert-Leroy - Les Cognaux 2017 - The bottle we are most looking forward to opening this Christmas after saving a couple to age in the cellar for a few years. 100% Pinot Noir made with no added sulphur. Natural Champagne!

Vouette et Sorbée - Blanc d'Argile 2018 - Bertrand Gautherot's wines are some of the most sought after in Champagne. This cuvée is made from biodynamic Chardonnay grapes with minimal sulphur use.

Laherte Frères - Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV - Always one of our best selling sparkling wines as it punches well above its price point. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes and also available in magnum.

Bourgeois-Diaz - Champagne Cuvée RS 2018 - Rosé Champagne made with Meunier grapes from Marne. Fruit forward but great complexity of minerals and herbs.

CHAMPAGNE STYLE

Jean-Pierre Rietsch - Crémant d'Alsace 2020/2021 - Is it even Christmas without the penguin fizz? This wine has a cult following and is always one of our biggest sellers at this time of year. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Auxerrois. Also available in magnum.

Domaine Overnoy - Cremant du Jura Blanc 2018 - Cremant with some nice age from Guillame Overnoy in the Côtes du Jura. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Les Granges Paquenesses - Cremant du Jura NV - Very well made sparkling wine from Tourmont in Jura. 100% Chardonnay.

Domaine Schaeffer-Woerly - Cremant d'Alsace 2020 - Amazing value Cremant from Maxime Schaeffer-Woerly in Dambach-La-Ville, Alsace. Made from a blend of Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc grapes.

Barranco Oscuro - Ensayo de Burbujas 2018 - Sparkling wine made by traditional method at very high altitude on the south side of the Sierra Nevada near Andalusia. Electric acidity even with 5 years of ageing. Again, great value. 

Clos Lentiscus - Rosé Brut Nature 2018 - Pink Sparkling wine made in the Champagne style using Tempranillo, Sumoll & Carignan grapes. Crunchy, red fruit flavours and nutty aromas.

Domaine Hugo - Hugo 2019 - The best English sparkling wine we have ever tried! Rich and round but with the acidity to match. Made with biodynamic grapes from Wiltshire and zero added sulphur. 

Charlie Herring - Promised Land 2014 - A unique chance to try skin contact sparkling Riesling from Hampshire with no less than 9 years of ageing. 

PET NATS WITH BODY & TEXTURE

Tanca Nica x Nino Barraco - NB x TN 2021 - One of our wines of 2023 for sure! A unique collaboration which involves Tanca Nica adding its Passulata to Nino Barraco's Catarratto to produce something very special. One for the wild crowd!

Bodega Clandestina - Ancestral Confiscat 2020 - Clean and pure sparkling Xarel Lo from Alt Penedès in Catalunya. We really love the body and texture of this wine that comes from the extended lees ageing. More of a Champagne-style Pet Nat.

Partida Creus - XL 2019 - Another Catalan, sparkling Xarel Lo. A great balance of fruit and savoury notes.

Domaine Dandelion - Pet Nat 2022 - Pinot Noir & Gamay grapes produce this white Pet Nat from the amazing Domaine Dandelion in Burgundy. Made in tiny quantities.

Vins Hodgson - Chalan Polan 2022 - Sparkling Chenin Blanc from Mai & Kenji Hodgson in Rablay-sur-Layon in the Loire Valley. This is arguably one of the best locations for this grape variety to express itself. Pet Nat with no added sulphites.

Melaric - Myriades 2020 - Textured Pet Nat that drinks more like a Champagne-style sprakling wine. Made from Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc grapes from in Saumur Puy Notre Dame, Loire.

Fernando Angulo - Campeonisimo Ancestral 2015  - Incredibly unique wine from the Sherry region in Andalusia. This is savoury and mineral with a complexity that has developed in the 8 years since these Palomino grapes were harvested.

Bencze - Petillant Blanc 2022 - Fresh and mineral Pet Nat from one of our favourite producers in Hungary. Made from a blend Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes.

Joan Rubio / Tiques - Monastrell Ancestral 2019  - Pink Pet Nat from Joan Rubio in Penedès, Catalonia. Delicate red fruit with a savoury edge

GREAT VALUE SPARKLING WINES

Chateau Barouillet - Splash! 2022 - One of our best selling Pet Nats. Very light and easy drinking. Great as an aperitif and also available in magnum

Ramon Jané - Tinc Set 2022 - Another cult classic. Ramon's Pet Nat that uses the classic blend of Cava grapes can't be beaten for value. 

Happy Drinking!